The PhDGov project encompasses a variety of activities aimed at enhancing the governance and management of PhD programs in Palestinian higher education institutions. These activities focus on building institutional capacity, fostering industry partnerships, and reforming the national governance framework for PhD education. Below are the key activities planned as part of the project:

1. Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer

• Training Programs: A series of training sessions will be organized for academic and administrative staff at Palestinian universities. These trainings will focus on best practices for PhD governance, program development, and research management, with contributions from European partner institutions.
• Study Visits: Key personnel from partner universities will participate in study visits to European universities, where they will observe the governance systems in place for PhD programs and gain first-hand knowledge of effective management and academic practices.
• Local Knowledge Transfer: Upon returning from study visits, participants will conduct training sessions within their institutions to share the knowledge acquired and implement improvements to existing PhD programs.

2. Development of PhD Program Governance Frameworks

• Self-Diagnostic Tools: The project will develop tools to help partner universities assess the current state of their PhD programs, identify gaps, and implement improvements.
• Establishing Local Doctoral Councils: Each participating Palestinian university will establish a Local Doctoral Council that will oversee the governance of PhD programs and ensure the adoption of best practices in academic management, supervision, and evaluation.
• Creation of PhD Multi-Purpose Rooms: Dedicated spaces for PhD students will be established at partner universities to facilitate collaborative research and academic discussions.

3. National PhD Governance Reform

• Development of a National Governance Framework: In collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the project will work on developing a standardized national framework for PhD program governance. This framework will include accreditation standards and quality assurance mechanisms aligned with international best practices.
• Formation of a National Doctoral Council: A National Doctoral Council will be established to oversee the governance and accreditation of PhD programs at the national level, ensuring consistency across Palestinian higher education institutions.

4. Fostering Industry-Academia Partnerships

• Industry Collaboration Workshops: The project will organize workshops to promote partnerships between universities and industries, fostering research that addresses societal, industrial, and scientific needs in Palestine.
• Research Group Formation: Interdisciplinary research groups, consisting of PhD students and supervisors from both Palestinian and European institutions, will be formed to collaborate on research projects that align with industry needs and global research trends.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Regular Evaluations: An ongoing monitoring and evaluation process will be implemented throughout the project’s duration to ensure that all activities meet the established objectives and that any issues are addressed in a timely manner.
• External Expert Evaluations: Independent external experts will be brought in to review the project’s progress and outcomes, ensuring transparency and providing constructive feedback for further improvement.

6. Dissemination and Sustainability

• PhD Platform Creation: The project will develop an online platform to host resources, training materials, and best practices, ensuring that the outcomes of the project are accessible to all stakeholders in the higher education community.
• Final Dissemination Workshop: A closing workshop will be held to share the results and outputs of the project with a wider audience, including policymakers, educators, and industry representatives, to ensure the sustainability of the reforms.

Through these activities, the PhDGov project seeks to modernize PhD programs in Palestinian universities, improve their governance structures, and enhance their contribution to both local and global research landscapes.